Among the ever-shifting beauty and haircare trends, one ingredient has always stayed in vogue—citric acid. Hair experts claim this hero ingredient can do wonders for rough and dull hair. You may wonder, how is citric acid good for hair? Let’s find out.
Read the full article to explore the benefits of citric acid for hair, its uses, DIY remedies, and precautions to liven up your locks.
What is Citric Acid?
It is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid used mainly as a cleaning agent in a wide range of skincare, haircare, and household products. You may have guessed it by now—natural citric acid comes from citrus or sour fruits like limes, lemons, oranges, etc. It is also produced synthetically with the help of a type of mold and used as an additive in several products.
Benefits of Citric Acids for Dull Hair
It is used in clarifying shampoos primarily to cleanse your hair and scalp deep as they remove all the accumulated residue from hair care products. Take a look at the detailed citric acid effect on hair:
1. Improves Hair Texture
Regular use as a hair wash can make hair more manageable and smoother. It also softens hair cuticles and adds luster.
2. Balances pH Levels
This acid has a pH between 3 and 6, which can help lower and adjust the pH level of haircare products and make them less prone to fungal and bacterial infections.
3. Exfoliates Scalp
A hair rinse made from this acid removes sebum, oil, dirt, and dead skin cells from the scalp and reduces greasiness.
4. Removes Hair Product Residue
This acid is a chelating agent that helps remove mineral and product buildup from hair. Also it lifts hair roots, adding volume.
5. Fights Dandruff
Moreover, this acid can also be an effective anti-dandruff ingredient, balancing pH levels and removing scalp buildup.
Where to Get Citric Acid for Cleaning Hair?
Depending on its form, this acid can be used in many ways. The easiest way to obtain it is by purchasing hair products formulated with this acid. You can spot it listed on the product ingredients list.
It is also available in loose powder form as powdered citric acid that can be used to make homemade hair rinses and cleansers.
Or, you can take the organic path and use it straight from its primary source, citric fruits. The following section elaborates on using citric acid for hair rinse to revitalize dull hair in just one wash.
DIY Citric Acid for Hair Rinse
You can make your own clarifying citric acid rinse for your hair to glam up your tresses. Follow this quick recipe to fuse citric acid and hair care routine:
Ingredients
- 4 ½ teaspoon of powdered citric acid
- ¼ teaspoon of silk powder peptides
- ½ teaspoon of dried horsetail
- ½ teaspoon of marshmallow root
Steps To Make
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender or crusher to blend them into a fine powder.
- Let the powder rest for 2-3 minutes before opening it, or it may spread around.
- With the help of a funnel, transfer the powder into a dry container.
How to Use It?
If you want a deep hair and scalp cleanse, mix 10 grams of powder with 100 ml of water to rinse your wet hair. The silk peptides will make your hair super shiny and lustrous. Marshmallow root will smooth out all the tangles and volumize your locks.
Using Natural Citric Acid for Hair Growth (Quick Remedy)
You can also obtain this acid from fruits for hair growth. Juice lemons, limes, or mosambis (sweet limes) to get up to 100 ml of juice. After shampooing your hair, use this solution to massage your hair and scalp. Leave it on for 5 minutes. Rinse with plain water.
Conclusion
Citric acid is good for hair and is used in various hair care products. It is an effective cleansing agent and can restore the vitality of your hair. It helps balance scalp pH, fights dandruff and makes hair smooth. Whether used from shampoos or in the form of homemade rinse, it removes accumulated scum, dirt, and grease from hair and scalp, adding bounce to your hair.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6017965/
https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2303967.pdf